Air freight is the fastest way to move goods across the world — and the least forgiving. A flight leaves in hours, not weeks, and one wrong document, a missed security screening or an unexpected dangerous-goods rule means your cargo simply doesn't make the plane (while warehouse charges start ticking). This guide explains how it works, and Nexport Logistics flies it for you end to end — booking, the air waybill, security, Customs and Dangerous Goods — all managed in the Nexportal platform.
When air freight makes sense
Air is the right call for time-critical, high-value, perishable or low-volume-high-urgency cargo. You pay a premium per kilo versus Sea Freight, but you buy speed and reliability — and for the right goods that more than pays for itself.
Chargeable weight — the number that decides your price
Air freight is not priced on actual weight alone. You pay on chargeable weight = the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight, where volumetric weight uses 1 m³ = 167 kg (6000 cm³ = 1 kg). So a light but bulky shipment is billed on its volume. Getting the dimensions and packing right directly changes the cost — and it's the first thing a good forwarder optimises.
The documents and the actors
- MAWB (Master Air Waybill) — between the airline and the booking party (us or a consolidator).
- HAWB (House Air Waybill) — between us and you, the consignee/shipper.
- IATA — the industry body whose rules govern air cargo worldwide.
- Ground handler — the airport cargo company that builds your cargo onto ULDs (aircraft pallets/containers) and stores it. The air equivalent of the sea terminal — and a place where storage charges add up fast if release isn't arranged.
Aviation security — the part shippers underestimate
Cargo flown on aircraft must be secure. Either you are a vetted known shipper, or your goods are tendered through a regulated agent (a forwarder authorised to present screened cargo). If neither is arranged, your cargo gets held for screening — delays, costs, and a real chance of missing the flight. Nexport Logistics handles this as a matter of course.
Tight cut-offs and pre-alerts
Air cut-offs are measured in hours. Miss the cut-off at the handler and you roll to the next flight. After departure a pre-alert goes out and arrival can be within a day — so the destination customs and delivery have to be lined up in advance, not after landing.
Dangerous goods by air are stricter
Air has the tightest dangerous-goods regime of all modes (IATA-DGR / ICAO TI), with a mandatory Shipper's Declaration, packaging and quantity limits, and special attention to lithium batteries, aerosols and perfume, plus the passenger-aircraft (PAX) vs cargo-aircraft-only (CAO) distinction. Get it wrong and the shipment is rejected at the counter. See Dangerous Goods.
Incoterms for air
Most air shipments run on CPT/CIP (prepaid), FCA (collect) or DAP/DDP (doorstep). The Incoterm decides who pays which leg — and a mismatch here is a classic source of surprise invoices.
Why do this with Nexport Logistics — instead of yourself
Air freight punishes the unprepared. On your own you're juggling the airline booking, a correct MAWB/HAWB, security screening status, the ground handler's cut-offs and storage clock, Customs on both ends, and — for many products — the IATA dangerous-goods declaration. One slip and the cargo misses the flight or sits racking up charges.
Nexport Logistics is a freight forwarder under the FENEX conditions, with its own customs declarants and transport, working with a worldwide agent network through the Bloc Logistics Network. We book the flight, issue the AWB, handle security as a regulated agent, clear customs, manage the dangerous-goods paperwork and deliver to the door — so you stay out of the hassle and just track it in the Nexportal portal.
Time-critical shipment? Email info@nexportlogistics.nl and we'll get it on the next flight.
Related: Customs · Dangerous Goods · Sea Freight